When Thomas Say, the founder of American Entomology, left the Academy for New Harmony, Indiana, the study of insects here was neglected. After Say's death his collections were sent to Thaddeus William Harris for study. Through accident, inadvertence, or just plain carelessness the dried insects were destroyed by dermestids. It has not been established whether the damage was done at the Academy or in the home of Harris where they were stored. During the ensuing years very little interest was shown in the insect department until Thomas B. Wilson aided financially and reactivated the Academy's efforts in that field. Included is a visitors book, 1918-41; an accession book recording lots of insects received, 1897-1926; a historical survey of 1934;

[UNK] by E.T. [UNK], Jr.